Natural Heritage - Number 9
The Journal of the Natural Heritage Trust
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia
Environment Australia, Autumn 2001
ISSN 1440-7256
PDF file
About this document
When the Natural Heritage Trust was announced by the Federal Coalition Government in 1996, it was the largest investment ever made towards restoring our environment and conserving our natural resources. Since then, an extra $250 million has been added to the Trust, making a total Federal Government investment of $1.5 billion.
To date, more than $1.1 billion has been allocated to projects around Australia that are improving natural resource management and conserving and enhancing our land, vegetation, waterways and coastal areas.
The Trust has also been the catalyst for financial and in-kind contributions from other governments, sponsors, community groups and individuals. Every dollar invested by the Trust generates another $7 towards repairing and improving our natural resources.
While the Trust has been the catalyst for an unprecedented nationwide effort to repair and enhance our natural resources, money alone does not do the job.
More than 300,000 volunteers have been involved in Trust projects, and more are joining volunteer groups every week. The Trust has galvanized the core environmental volunteers across our nation, and importantly has also opened the way for many more people who have not previously been involved.
Trust funding has been allocated to 10,355 projects, many of them run by larger organisations, such as local councils and regional environmental groups, who have in turn involved smaller groups and individuals contributing at the local level to wider strategic and regional goals. Thanks to this strategic approach and through these "devolved grants", the total number of parties involved in delivering on-ground outcomes far exceeds the actual number of projects.
This issue of Natural Heritage coincides with the recent tabling in Federal Parliament of the Natural Heritage Trust 1999-2000 Annual Report. As with school reports, the annual report provides a snapshot of the progress of the Trust, the achievements that have been made, the projects and groups that have received funding and where the Trust money has been invested. This journal highlights the range of projects being undertaken, and reflects the comprehensive nature of the Trust. It includes some key information about what has been achieved and the continuing work that is contributing to the massive repair effort.
It is important when taxpayers' money is involved that the recipients are accountable and the results and processes evaluated and open to scrutiny. We commend this annual report to anyone interested in a more in-depth picture of the Natural Heritage Trust at work. Copies of the Annual Report may be obtained free-of-charge by telephoning the Natural Heritage Trust Community Information Line on 1800 065 823.
Our next issue of the journal celebrates the International Year of the Volunteer and showcases the contributions of some of the thousands of Natural Heritage Trust volunteers undertaking local environmental action in places right across Australia.
Robert Hill
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Warren Truss
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
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